Early planning under way for possible northern beaches rail line

IT’S days of being Sydney’s most disconnected city could soon be over, with plans for a train line and underground motorway to Manly in the early stages.

LIKE a second Sydney airport, there has been talk of a rail line to the northern beaches for decades but rarely has it seemed any closer to becoming a reality.

But a new report from the NRMA revealed today has confirmed a rail line to Manly is in the early planning stages. The report cites recent meetings between the NRMA and the State Government on the project.

“NRMA understands that as part of planning for the second Harbour crossing, the NSW Government is considering constructing a spur line towards Neutral Bay and The Spit,” the report­ states.

The NRMA’s comprehensive transport plan strongly backs building the rail line, along with a list of transport improvements it says are a priority for the peninsula.

Asked to elaborate on the rail line, the NRMA confirmed it had been in meetings in which the Neutral Bay spur line (an offshoot of a bigger line) was flagged as part of planning for the second harbour crossing.

A new bridge out of Sydney could help ease traffic pressure.

“We have been part of some of these briefings but it is at a very early stage,” a NRMA spokesman said.

The spokesman said no detail was discussed about the exact location­ of the spur line yet, how far north it would extend­ or where new stations might be located.

“I think they are looking to ensure they give proper consideration to a Neutral Bay spur line because it is an obvious missing link in the network.”

The NRMA has thrown its support behind the rail line as part of a detailed package of transport improvements in its ‘Getting the Northern Beaches Moving’ plan.

Morning peak hour traffic on The Spit bridge looking South into Mosman.

The other key recommendation is for a tunnel under the Spit Bridge to connect Seaforth with the Warringah Freeway, and for this to link with the new harbour tunnel, and ultimately, the WestConnex.

“The difficulty of getting to and from the northern beaches is isolating it from the rest of Sydney,” NRMA’s harbour region director Tim Trumper said.

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The call for a road tunnel echoes the recommendation made by Infrastructure NSW late last year, and supported by Premier Mike Baird, for a direct link bypassing Spit Rd and Military Rd.

“For decades, the northern beaches and the lower north shore has been the Bermuda Triangle of transport infrastructure, where plans have come and gone to disappear without a trace,” Mr Trumper said.

“The chronic neglect has left our roads badly congested and buses at or over capacity. We believe the Government must now take this opportunity to put the region back on the agenda as part of its overall drive to improve infrastructure across Sydney.”

What impact would a train line have on the northern beaches? Picture Cameron Richardson

While the motoring lobby welcomed the plan to build a Bus Rapid Transit as part of the Government’s $633 million package to fix the regions­ transport woes, it said much more needs to be done for the areas long suffering drivers.

It said Spit Rd and Military Rd were two of the worst in Sydney with higher traffic volumes than Parramatta Rd which will benefit from the WestConnex.

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On an average weekday, 70,000 vehicles use the Spit Bridge, 80,000 use Military Rd and about 64,000 use Parramatta Rd at Camperdown.

“It is important to note that the car remains the preferred mode of travel for the region, with 68 per cent of all trips taken by motor vehicle,” the report said, compared with 7 per cent by bus.

NRMA directors Tim Trumper, and Coral Taylor at Pittwater Road, at the Narrabeen Lagoon Bridge. Picture: Braden Fastier.

The NRMA’s Wishlist

Public transport

● Build a northern beaches rail line

● Dump plans to replace transit lanes with bus lanes as part of Bus Rapid Transit, particularly through Cremorne

● Boost ferry patronage through better connections with buses

● Current plans for more commuter parking at Mona Vale, Warriewood, Narrabeen, Brookvale and Dee Why as part of BRT should be rolled out to Frenches Forest, Forestville and Manly Vale.

● More bike parking at bus stops and ferry wharves.

● Encourage homeowners to lease their private car spaces near major transport hubs

Northern beaches

● Tunnel under the Spit Bridge to link Seaforth with the Warringah Freeway

● Pittwater Rd: Fast track the proposed widening of Narrabeen Bridge to six lanes. Widen the road where right turning bays overflow and cause delays

● Mona Vale Rd: Fast track the current widening to four lanes for its entire length

●Warringah Rd: Build a pedestrian bridge at intersection of Starkey St at Forestville to avoid traffic jams

Mosman and Neutral Bay

● Weekend clearways: Weekend clearways on key corridors including along Spit Rd and Military Rd provided alternative parking is provided for local businesses

● Transit lanes: Boost average car occupancy by improving transit lane signage and painting them orange

● Pedestrian bridge: Build a pedestrian bridge over Spit Rd at Parriwi Rd North to avoid bottlenecks

● Traffic lights: Fix phasing at key intersections along Spit Rd and Military Rd that are convenient for pedestrians but delay traffic